Washington, D.C. – Ilyse Hogue, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, announced today that the organization’s political action committee endorsed Terry McAuliffe in his campaign to become the next governor of Virginia.

“Terry McAuliffe is the only candidate in this race who has made a commitment to protecting a woman’s right to choose,” Hogue said. “He respects a woman’s ability to make her own health-care decisions without interference from politicians. In direct contrast, Terry’s opponent Ken Cuccinelli has done all he can to move women’s health back into the stone ages. From sponsoring legislation that would defund Planned Parenthood to proposing legislation that would outlaw certain forms of in vitro fertilization, Cuccinelli has tried again and again to take away a woman’s ability to choose when and whether she has a family. We know that choice will be a defining issue for Virginians as they make their minds up in this election. From now to Election Day, we will remind voters that Terry McAuliffe is the only candidate who shares their pro-choice values.”

Proposed amendment to defund Planned Parenthood (2008)Amendment added to the budget bill to prevent Planned Parenthood from receiving state funding for family planning, sex education, and contraceptive services.

Co-sponsored HB 2797, “Personhood” (2007) Legislation to alter Virginia code to state that life begins at the moment of conception. In addition to laying the legal groundwork to ban all abortion (including in cases of rape, incest, and danger to the life/health of the woman), HB 2797 would have criminalized several common forms of birth control and some infertility treatments, including in vitrofertilization.

Hogue said NARAL Pro-Choice America will work with Tarina Keene, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia, to dedicate significant resources toward a voter-education effort and to provide on-the-ground support for Terry McAuliffe’s campaign.